Michael is a skilled patent attorney and technology protection strategist. He works with both growing and established companies to create, manage, and improve patent portfolios both in the US and worldwide. He works closely with experts in key patent jurisdictions worldwide to maximize enforceability and business value of clients' intellectual property rights. Michael also advises clients on business-critical IP due diligence issues, patent portfolio valuation, and licensing agreements and has been instrumental in creative resolutions of potential IP roadblocks in high value transactions.
Clients rely on Michael’s extensive experience, accumulated over 20 years of legal practice, to navigate the nuances of patent procurement and enforcement in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. His skills in mining existing patent assets to enhance their value and in designing and implementing programs for protecting ongoing innovations are highly sought after by cutting edge technology companies.
Experience
- Michael leads the Mintz team responsible for development and management of the worldwide patent portfolio protecting current and future products of a market leading e-cigarette manufacturer. He applies innovative asset development strategies to leverage existing disclosures and on-going utility and design filings as part of an integrated, global strategy to interdict copycat products with a view toward market share protection and regulatory compliance.
- Michael co-manages a sizable portfolio for a market-leading German developer of database and business software products, and collaborates with other Mintz attorneys to develop and apply effective strategies for addressing the ever-changing patentability landscape for software-based inventions.
- Michael also co-manages the Mintz team that designs and implements a US and foreign patent program for one of the world's largest credit rating agencies, which is also a leader in fraud detection and other financial risk mitigation technology. The Mintz team has tailored the company's portfolio and filing strategies with a particular focus on jurisdiction and subject matter analysis to maximize the value of the company’s legal spend while securing protection in the markets where the company is most likely to achieve grant of valuable, enforceable assets.
viewpoints
How Compulsory Licenses Can Affect Domestic and Foreign Prosecution
January 24, 2024 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Sophia Petrichenko
Compulsory licensing is a practice that allows a third party to produce or use a patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner. The practice may be implemented to ensure patent owners are utilizing the technology in which they were granted exclusive rights.
The Impact of Venture Capital Funding on Entity Status
November 10, 2023 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Jessica Zhang, Qi Zhang
Understanding the implications of venture capital funding on a company’s size classification is crucial, especially when it jeopardizes its “small entity” status and raises concerns with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Member Michael D. Van Loy, PhD and Associates Jessica Zhang and Qi Zhang break down these complexities, underscoring the importance of accurately determining entity status to avoid pitfalls such as patent invalidation.
The New European Patent System: Unitary Patents & Unified Patent Court
January 18, 2023 | Webinar | By Pedro Suarez, Michael Van Loy
The new Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the Unitary Patent (UP) system are scheduled to kick off on June 1, 2023, with the Sunrise Period for requesting “opt outs” beginning March 1, 2023.
PATENT 101: Key Considerations and Activities for Establishing a Patent Program (Part 2 of 3)
December 1, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Kevin Amendt, Nicholas Eadie
PATENT 101: Key Considerations and Activities for Establishing a Patent Program (Part 1 of 3)
July 7, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Kevin Amendt, Nicholas Eadie
Design Patent Registrations after Brexit and Updates to Design Rights in China
February 25, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Joshua Berk
Federal Circuit Says Automated Systems Are Not Abstract when Tied to Improvements
February 9, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, F. Jason Far-hadian, Mark Hammond
Are Design Patents Missing From Your IP Portfolio?
June 23, 2020 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Joshua Berk
Federal Circuit Closes Another AIA Loophole
June 28, 2019 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy
Federal Circuit Invalidates Claim to Generating “Financial Risk” Reports
March 21, 2017 | Blog | By Michael Van Loy, Nicholas Mouton
News & Press
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Events & Speaking
USPTO Post-Grant Patent Trials 2018: Change & Recalibration
Practising Law Institute
PLI California Center 685 Market Street San Francisco, CA
Recognition & Awards
Best Lawyers in America: Patent Law (2021-2025)
Included on the San Diego Super Lawyers Rising Star: Intellectual Property list (2016)